"Todd is a thoughtful and strategic leader with the commitment and capacity to address the details of operational issues. Throughout our work together, he has been focused on achieving financial balance, establishing the CTC as a relevant and respected part of the community and creating a positive environment in which to work, volunteer and appreciate theater. I have been impressed by the progress that the organization made in a relatively short time in building earned revenue through a renewed energy and excitement around programming and resulting increases in ticket sales; rebuilding staff morale, engagement and trust; diversifying and growing the board; and re-establishing the trust and goodwill of the funding and arts community."
-Anne Dunning, Principal Associate, ARTS Action Research
"You have been one of the best Executive Directors the CTC has ever had, and that says something. I have been amazed by what you have been able to lead the CTC to accomplish."
-Jeromie Gentry, ScenicStage.com
"Under your leadership the plays [at The Chattanooga Theatre Centre] have NEVER been better and it appears that attendance has been increasing in size and diversity. PAL and the young people we serve have benefited so much from the partnership you offered."
-Patricia Daniel, Performing Arts League
"A final curtain call for Todd Olson: Olson was one of the best things to happen to Bay area theater in the last 20 years, both as theater head and as director. Under his guidance, American Stage moved to its dazzling new venue, and brought many of the best contemporary plays to an area that otherwise would have gone without. It’ll be hard to fill his shoes.”
-Creative Loafing
-Anne Dunning, Principal Associate, ARTS Action Research
"You have been one of the best Executive Directors the CTC has ever had, and that says something. I have been amazed by what you have been able to lead the CTC to accomplish."
-Jeromie Gentry, ScenicStage.com
"Under your leadership the plays [at The Chattanooga Theatre Centre] have NEVER been better and it appears that attendance has been increasing in size and diversity. PAL and the young people we serve have benefited so much from the partnership you offered."
-Patricia Daniel, Performing Arts League
"A final curtain call for Todd Olson: Olson was one of the best things to happen to Bay area theater in the last 20 years, both as theater head and as director. Under his guidance, American Stage moved to its dazzling new venue, and brought many of the best contemporary plays to an area that otherwise would have gone without. It’ll be hard to fill his shoes.”
-Creative Loafing
#3. AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY [American Stage; 2011]
“One of the most emotionally draining and rewarding experiences I have ever had in the theatre. It's also probably the most edge-of-your-seat thrilling non-musical I've seen this decade. Director Todd Olson guided what has to be considered the ultimate ensemble, a dream cast if ever there was one.”
“One of the most emotionally draining and rewarding experiences I have ever had in the theatre. It's also probably the most edge-of-your-seat thrilling non-musical I've seen this decade. Director Todd Olson guided what has to be considered the ultimate ensemble, a dream cast if ever there was one.”
"BroadwayWorld.com Tampa Bay “Best of the Decade” 2010-2020
#1. THE AUGUST WILSON CENTURY CYCLE [American Stage; 2007-2017]
“Nothing in our area has come close to what American Stage achieved with the Century Cycle--one of only twelve theaters in the world to perform the magnum opus by the greatest American playwright of the past forty years. At the end of the last of the American Stage productions in 2017 (JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE), I saw so many men and women wiping tears from their eyes. They were obviously crying from the power of the play they had just witnessed, but they were also tearing up because, after a decade, the Century Cycle had come to its final curtain. It will be a long time before another local theatre company does something this epically powerful, this momentous. What American Stage accomplished is nothing short of an historic achievement--a celebration of what it means to be alive in this flawed, but great nation."
#1. THE AUGUST WILSON CENTURY CYCLE [American Stage; 2007-2017]
“Nothing in our area has come close to what American Stage achieved with the Century Cycle--one of only twelve theaters in the world to perform the magnum opus by the greatest American playwright of the past forty years. At the end of the last of the American Stage productions in 2017 (JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE), I saw so many men and women wiping tears from their eyes. They were obviously crying from the power of the play they had just witnessed, but they were also tearing up because, after a decade, the Century Cycle had come to its final curtain. It will be a long time before another local theatre company does something this epically powerful, this momentous. What American Stage accomplished is nothing short of an historic achievement--a celebration of what it means to be alive in this flawed, but great nation."
Creative Loafing “Best of the Bay” Award for “Best Theater Company 2013”
AMERICAN STAGE THEATRE COMPANY
AMERICAN STAGE THEATRE COMPANY
The question is which theater brought us the best plays in the best productions? And by a mile the answer is American Stage. There was a life-changing WIT, the riveting AMISH PROJECT, and the beautifully meaningful MY NAME IS ASHER LEV. There was HYSTERIA’s look at Freud, A DOLL’S HOUSE’s look at sexism, and THE PIANO LESSON’S look at African-American memory. And who else dared to give us a play by Sam Shepard and Joseph Chaikin? What a spectacular season!
2013 Creative Loafing “Best of the Bay” Award for “Best Director” – TODD OLSON
Olson was skillful last season with every sort of play, from the deeply serious WIT to the half-farce, half- drama HYSTERIA, to the poetic and evocative WHEN THE WORLD WAS GREEN. His work on WIT was emblematic: he made no effort to disguise the pain that protagonists Vivian bearing was enduring as she went through a publishing rounds of chemotherapy, any carefully brought us to place later moments without ever succumbing to the temptation to deny the distress at the drama center. Stunning.
THE AMISH PROJECT
Outstanding Production, Play
Outstanding Director, Play - Todd Olson
Outstanding Lead Actress, Play – Katherine Tanner
Outstandin7 Theatre Tampa Bay nominations, including Todd Olson for “Outstanding Sound Design” and “Outstanding Director, Play”g Sound Design - Todd Olson
Outstanding Production, Play
Outstanding Director, Play - Todd Olson
Outstanding Lead Actress, Play – Katherine Tanner
Outstandin7 Theatre Tampa Bay nominations, including Todd Olson for “Outstanding Sound Design” and “Outstanding Director, Play”g Sound Design - Todd Olson
2013 THEATRE TAMPA BAY AWARD for "Outstanding Production, Play", "Outstanding Director, Play", "Outstanding Lead Actress, Play", and "Outstanding Sound Design"
"Wherever Todd goes, he will bring a creativity second to none."
-WKLA/WYBU/Z-95/WMTE, Ludington, MI
”Artistic director Todd Olson has been a welcome figure
on the Tampa Bay arts scene for some years now...
but with this delightful season, he outdid himself!"
-Creative Loafing, 2008 “Best of the Bay” Award for “Best Theatre Company” (Critics’ and Readers’ pick)
2012 "Jeff Norton Awards" for American Stage Theatre Company:
CRITIC'S CHOICE FOR OUTSTANDING PLAY OF 2012 - AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR Matt Chiorini The Foreigner
OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A PLAY Chris Crawford The Foreigner
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A PLAY Lisa McMillan August: Osage County
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR Greyson Lewis The Foreigner
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS Elizabeth Dimon The Foreigner
OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL Matt McGee Rocky Horror Show
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL Lauren L. Wood Vanishing Point
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN Joseph P. Oshry Rocky Horror Show
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN Scott Cooper August: Osage County
OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN T. Scott Wooten Seven Guitars
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN Trish Kelley Rocky Horror Show
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR Matt Chiorini The Foreigner
OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A PLAY Chris Crawford The Foreigner
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A PLAY Lisa McMillan August: Osage County
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR Greyson Lewis The Foreigner
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS Elizabeth Dimon The Foreigner
OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL Matt McGee Rocky Horror Show
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL Lauren L. Wood Vanishing Point
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN Joseph P. Oshry Rocky Horror Show
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN Scott Cooper August: Osage County
OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN T. Scott Wooten Seven Guitars
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN Trish Kelley Rocky Horror Show
"Best Theatre Company" - American Stage (Critic's Pick and Reader's Pick)
Although the competition’s getting stiffer, American Stage offered more winners last season than any other local theater. Consider a year that brought us Tracy Letts’ brilliant August: Osage County, August Wilson’s luminous Seven Guitars, and Oscar Wilde’s witty An Ideal Husband. Then there was Matt McGee in The Rocky Horror Show, Lisa Powers in 2.5 Minute Ride, and Drew DeCaro and Justin Campbell in A Steady Rain. A season — and a theater — to treasure.
"Best Play" - August: Osage County
Brilliantly directed by Todd Olson, Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County was the highlight of the season at American Stage and the Bay area generally. An all-star cast brought us a United States high on Xanax and painkillers, afflicted by terminal narcissism, rent by money-love and youth-addiction and committed to no principle higher than every man and woman for him/herself. Is the American dream so tattered and soiled? This play said “yes” — and said it boisterously, viciously, poignantly.
"Best Actor" - Jim Sorensen (Rocky Horror Show and others...)
"Best Director" - Karla Hartley (Rocky Horror Show and Biloxi Blues)
"Most Joyous Comic Presence" - Matt McGee (Rocky Horror Show and others)
"Best Ubiquitous Theater Guy" - Gavin Hawk (Barefoot in the Park and The Foreigner, among others)
Although the competition’s getting stiffer, American Stage offered more winners last season than any other local theater. Consider a year that brought us Tracy Letts’ brilliant August: Osage County, August Wilson’s luminous Seven Guitars, and Oscar Wilde’s witty An Ideal Husband. Then there was Matt McGee in The Rocky Horror Show, Lisa Powers in 2.5 Minute Ride, and Drew DeCaro and Justin Campbell in A Steady Rain. A season — and a theater — to treasure.
"Best Play" - August: Osage County
Brilliantly directed by Todd Olson, Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County was the highlight of the season at American Stage and the Bay area generally. An all-star cast brought us a United States high on Xanax and painkillers, afflicted by terminal narcissism, rent by money-love and youth-addiction and committed to no principle higher than every man and woman for him/herself. Is the American dream so tattered and soiled? This play said “yes” — and said it boisterously, viciously, poignantly.
"Best Actor" - Jim Sorensen (Rocky Horror Show and others...)
"Best Director" - Karla Hartley (Rocky Horror Show and Biloxi Blues)
"Most Joyous Comic Presence" - Matt McGee (Rocky Horror Show and others)
"Best Ubiquitous Theater Guy" - Gavin Hawk (Barefoot in the Park and The Foreigner, among others)
2012 Creative Loafing “Best of the Bay” Awards
Todd accepts the Critic's Choice Award for AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, named "Outstanding Play in the Tampa Bay Area 2012"
2011 Creative Loafing “Best of the Bay” Awards
BEST ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Todd Olson
You’ve got to be grateful for what Olson’s done at American Stage. Not only does his mainstage continues to offer first-class work. Beyond that, he’s added the Cabaret, the Sunday Improvs featuring the brilliant Hawk and Wayne, the After Hours series of eccentric theater pieces, and the staged reading series “Hot Off The Press.” And he directs!
BEST THEATRE COMPANY (Readers and Critic’s Pick): American Stage Theatre Company
American Stage brought us a scorching Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, an intense Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and a wonderfully intelligent Opus. Bravo!
BEST LOCAL THEATER PRODUCTION: RENT
American Stage in the Park
Creative Loafing “top 10 performances of 2011”:
Christine Decker (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, American Stage). Decker played Edward Albee's Martha as a woman who respected power but knew only wimps, who loved her husband so much she wanted to hurt him, and who utilized sexuality as just one more weapon in a Darwinian free-for-all. Terrific acting in a truly great play.
You’ve got to be grateful for what Olson’s done at American Stage. Not only does his mainstage continues to offer first-class work. Beyond that, he’s added the Cabaret, the Sunday Improvs featuring the brilliant Hawk and Wayne, the After Hours series of eccentric theater pieces, and the staged reading series “Hot Off The Press.” And he directs!
BEST THEATRE COMPANY (Readers and Critic’s Pick): American Stage Theatre Company
American Stage brought us a scorching Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, an intense Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and a wonderfully intelligent Opus. Bravo!
BEST LOCAL THEATER PRODUCTION: RENT
American Stage in the Park
Creative Loafing “top 10 performances of 2011”:
Christine Decker (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, American Stage). Decker played Edward Albee's Martha as a woman who respected power but knew only wimps, who loved her husband so much she wanted to hurt him, and who utilized sexuality as just one more weapon in a Darwinian free-for-all. Terrific acting in a truly great play.
Creative Loafing’s The Top 10 Plays of the Decade (2000-2010)
"ANNA IN THE TROPICS (American Stage, 2004). Artistic Director Todd Olson had been at American Stage little more than a year when he brought Anna, set in Ybor City, to the stage with an astonishing realism. Cuban-American author Nilo Cruz may have been writing about the 1920s, but Olson’s staging was so immediate, you could smell the tobacco, the sweat and the lust. PROOF (American Stage, 2005). There’s a beauty in ensemble acting, when each performer shines but the collective shines even more brightly. And this was the great virtue of American Stage’s Proof-The play was intelligent — but the acting was genius. A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN (American Stage, 2003). The theater doesn’t get more poignant."
Creative Loafing Hall of Fame: American Stage
“Ten consecutive Best of the Bay awards—including this year’s Readers’ Poll choice for Best Theater Troupe—is a handy way to get into our Hall-O’-Fame. The St. Petersburg company celebrates its 30th anniversary on Oct. 2 — that’s three full decades of live stage entertainment, from mainstream to edgy. In ’06, the company surpassed 2,000 subscribers for the first time. And things are getting even better. It was announced in January that American Stage had partnered with St. Petersburg College; part of that deal finds the company getting a brand new building in downtown St. Pete (for which Raymond James Financial just laid down a $500,000 grant). That guarantees us many more decades of top-notch professional theater.”
